As Q1 2015 comes to an end, FTE explores how crew empowerment, cabin ambience and non-premium investments are impacting the passenger experience. As the first quarter of 2015 comes to a close, FTE takes a look at some of the trends that have emerged over the last three months and considers how they might impact …

As Q1 2015 comes to an end, FTE explores how crew empowerment, cabin ambience and non-premium investments are impacting the passenger experience.

As the first quarter of 2015 comes to a close, FTE takes a look at some of the trends that have emerged over the last three months and considers how they might impact the passenger experience during the remainder of 2015.

JetBlue is equipping every flight attendant with an iPad Mini with a bespoke In-flight Service Assistant app, to help streamline in-flight processes and personalise the onboard experience.

Equipping flight attendants with mobile devices is not a new trend per se – the likes of Allegiant and Delta Air Lines have set the trend over the last few years – but the past three months has seen the pace of adoption really pick up. By the end of April 2015, every JetBlue crew member will be equipped with an iPad Mini with a bespoke In-Flight Service Assistant app, while fellow low-cost carrier Transavia recently announced a team-up with MI Airline, which will see tablets rolled out to help give flight attendants more detailed insight into the passengers onboard, optimise staff productivity and act as an intuitive point of sale device. As Joanna Geraghty, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience, JetBlue Airways stated, “ the connected cabin is the next big thing”.

It’s not just the LCCs investing in tablets, though. Full service carrier (FSC) Singapore Airlines has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on a tablet-based app that helps to automate and streamline in-flight processes for flight attendants, which will concurrently benefit the passenger experience. Further improving crew efficiency is currently at the centre of the project, but the two companies plan to develop the app to help crew offer a more personalised onboard experience for passengers.

Elsewhere in Asia, China Eastern is also investing in tablet-based apps to support crew members. The carrier has partnered with Microsoft to introduce a version of the “XiaoIce” personal assistant, which enables crew to gain insight into passenger preferences, while they can be contacted directly by passengers via the app during the flight (more information can be found here).

As more aircraft come online with onboard connectivity during the remainder of 2015, we expect to see many more carriers make public their investments in tablet-based solutions.

Airlines focused on creating a mood

Ambient cabin lighting solutions are gaining popularity as airlines realise the benefits of upgrading older planes to close the gap on the onboard experience offered by new aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 XWB. (Photo: STG Aerospace Limited)

When it comes to airlines’ lists of passenger experience priorities, onboard Wi-Fi is probably at the top at present, but as carriers continue to either roll out existing solutions or wait for the next-generation of products to come to market, they are making improvements to the onboard experience in other ways. The introduction of the A350 XWB, with its LED mood lighting, advanced pure air filtration system and large windows, is at the heart of this trend. Qatar Airways became the world’s first carrier to operate the aircraft in January, and a further 39 carriers – from Aer Lingus and Air China, to Vietnam Airlines and Yemenia – are confirmed to follow suit, with 780 orders for the A350-800, -900 and -1000 already placed.

Suppliers are also helping to drive innovation in this space. As recently explained to FTE by STG Aerospace’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Marcus Williams, “atmospheric” cabin lighting “is now a very important consideration from a passenger’s point of view”.

In the past week, another vendor, AIM Altitude, has unveiled an autonomous lighting control, which again is aimed at improving cabin ambience. The so-called Autonomous Lighting Dimmer has been developed for first and business class cabins and without connecting to the aircraft IFE system or the aircraft cabin mood lighting system, it allows lights to be dimmed to match the cabin environment. John Heath, Group Design and Technical Director at AIM Altitude said the device has been created in response to the fact that lighting “has now become an important way for airlines to provide differentiation and to set the atmosphere for their passengers”.

Welcome investment away from the front of the aircraft

Air Astana is the first European carrier to offer a lie-flat seating option outside of first and business class, thanks to the introduction of its Economy Sleeper Class.

It’s no secret that airlines make their money from the seats at the front of the aircraft, which means many continue to come in for criticism for a lack of investment in improving the experience at the back of the plane. While many carriers dress up the retrofit of slimline seats as a way of creating more space for economy customers, the reality is that they allow for more seats to be squeezed into the cabin, therefore limiting any passenger experience benefits.

Some carriers are, however, at least making an effort to make things better. This week, Air Astana’s Economy Sleeper Class has entered operation on the Astana-Paris and Astana-Hong Kong routes, having been added to services from the Kazakh capital to London Heathrow and Frankfurt in February. OK, it’s not exactly an improvement to the economy class experience as passengers have to pay more for the privilege of three seats converted into a lie-flat bed thanks to the addition of a mattress, duvet and pillows, but it does indicate a willingness to make improvements outside of the first and business class cabins. To put the price into perspective, on 7 April the cheapest fare from Astana to Frankfurt is around €440 one-way, while an Economy Sleeper ticket is more than double that at €990. However, a Business Class seat on the same flight would be €2,180. Much like the recent introduction of Premium Economy classes by the likes of Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines, the idea is to offer a more luxurious experience at a price-point more affordable than Business Class.

Of course, we would love to see more improvements in economy class proper, but slightly more “affordable” comfort is still a step in the right direction. Here at FTE, we wouldn’t be surprised if a number of other carriers are keeping a close eye on Air Astana’s new lie-flat product with a view to introducing something similar themselves.

Finnair’s Board of Directors has approved an investment in onboard Wi-Fi and the A350 XWB is set to be the carrier’s first Wi-Fi equipped aircraft. Finnair is set to invest in onboard Wi-Fi connectivity for the majority of its wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, after the carrier’s Board of Directors gave the go-ahead to the investment. …

Finnair’s Board of Directors has approved an investment in onboard Wi-Fi and the A350 XWB is set to be the carrier’s first Wi-Fi equipped aircraft.

Finnair will be the first European carrier to take delivery of the new A350 XWB, and the carrier has confirmed that the aircraft will be equipped with onboard Wi-Fi.

Finnair is set to invest in onboard Wi-Fi connectivity for the majority of its wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, after the carrier’s Board of Directors gave the go-ahead to the investment. At this stage, no further details are available as to which supplier Finnair is likely to work with on the connectivity rollout.

The airline’s first A350 XWB is scheduled to enter service in autumn 2015, and Finnair revealed that this will the first of its Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.

In 2016, Wi-Fi installation will get underway for the A330 fleet, in addition to select Airbus aircraft serving short-haul routes. The carrier plans to complete the Wi-Fi rollout by 2018.

Pekka Vauramo, Finnair’s CEO, said: “This investment will enable us to offer a wide array of new services to our customers, ranging from in-flight entertainment to in-flight sales and ancillaries.”

The announcement of the investment in onboard connectivity comes at the end of a broad, three-year saving programme designed to help Finnair better control its operating costs.

Following extensive research and investment, Air France’s new Economy and Business Class cabins have been showcased on a flight between Toulouse and Paris. Air France had debuted its new medium-haul cabins, with the airline’s Chairman and CEO, Frédéric Gagey, declaring: “It’s now time to make sure we win the battle on medium-haul.” The new-look Business …

Following extensive research and investment, Air France’s new Economy and Business Class cabins have been showcased on a flight between Toulouse and Paris.

The new B/E Aerospace-supplied seats, which feature an adjustable headrest and 20-degree recline, are among the key features in the new medium-haul cabin.

Air France had debuted its new medium-haul cabins, with the airline’s Chairman and CEO, Frédéric Gagey, declaring: “It’s now time to make sure we win the battle on medium-haul.”

The new-look Business and Economy cabins were showcased on an A319-operated service between Toulouse and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and a further 23 retrofitted A319s will be in service before the end of Q2. In the first half of 2016, 25 A320s will be retrofitted with the new cabins.

The new cabins include B/E Aerospace-supplied seats – including an adjustable headrest, 20-degree recline, fully retractable armrests and a leather finish – to bring them into line with Air France’s long-haul offer. In Business Class, passengers also get a soft cushion, while the middle seat will always be left free.

Across both classes, the F&B offer has also been refreshed, and all passengers will be offered a hot meal on flights over two hours long. In Business Class, the dining service will be brought more closely into line with the gourmet offering onboard long-haul services. The upgrades are being carried out following extensive liaison with travellers and travel influencers. In total, more than 10,000 travellers were surveyed.

“With these new cabins, we aim to once again be among the best in the world,” Gagey stated. “Winning the preference of each customer on departure from Europe is now a strategic priority of the 2020 Perform plan.”

Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of the Air France-KLM group, said: “To continue to be one of the global giants of the air transport industry, it is essential for us to have a strong base in Europe. After investing €1 billion in the upgrading of our long-haul products and services at both Air France and KLM, we are continuing our offensive with a completely redesigned medium-haul offer. Our aim is clear: to convince our customers. Show them that today we can make a difference and be their preferred partner in Europe, our natural market.”

The theme for FTE’s 10-year anniversary show in Las Vegas is “Transforming the passenger experience through customer-focused innovation and collaboration”. We have just launched the Future Travel Experience Global 2015 website, which provides a taster of what you can expect from this year’s landmark 10-year anniversary show, which will take place in Las Vegas from …

We have just launched the Future Travel Experience Global 2015 website, which provides a taster of what you can expect from this year’s landmark 10-year anniversary show, which will take place in Las Vegas from 9th-11th September. The theme for FTE Global 2015 is: “Transforming the passenger experience through customer-focused innovation and collaboration”.

This major industry event is expected to attract more than 650 travel industry leaders from the world’s most progressive airlines, airports, vendors, OEMs, government agencies, destination partners and various other travel industry stakeholders, who will come together to share their latest passenger experience plans and visions, and collectively define the end-to-end passenger experience of the future.

Our 10th FTE Global show will include ‘On the Ground’ and ‘Up in the Air’ conference streams, an inspiring exhibition, interactive forums, the 5th FTE Awards ceremony, McCarran International Airport tours and an unforgettable social and networking programme.

In the ‘On the Ground’ conference, delegates can expect to hear about the latest developments and future trends relating to each of the key passenger touch points and technologies, including pre-travel, check-in and validation, baggage, security and facilitation, immigration, arrivals and post-travel, in addition to the sessions exploring the future role of mobile and wearable technology, beacons, robotics and AI in the airport of the future.

Meanwhile, the ‘Up in the Air’ stream, which will run simultaneously, will include our most progressive onboard-focused agenda yet, with emphasis on future developments relating to next-generation IFE, connectivity, cabin design, passenger comfort, crew empowerment and personalisation. Mary Kirby, Founder and Editor of Runway Girl Network, will also lead a “Connectivity Unleashed” session – a no-holds-barred, spin-free discussion in which she will grill industry leaders from the likes of Panasonic Avionics, Gogo, Thales, ViaSat and Global Eagle Entertainment on how nose-to-tail connectivity will change airlines and aviation forever, and how it will reinvent the passenger experience onboard.

The full agenda will be launched in the coming weeks, but you can find out more about the two conference streams, exhibition, social programme and 5th FTE Awards by visiting the new FTE Global 2015 website.

GuestLogix has announced that its Transaction Processing Engine will enable the acceptance of onboard payment by Bitcoin and other virtual currencies. A couple of weeks ago, FTE highlighted how new technologies are helping airlines and airports improve payment processing, and further highlighting this trend GuestLogix has now announced that its Transaction Processing Engine (TPE) will …

The development means flight attendants will be able to accept virtual currency payment via handheld point-of-sale (POS) terminal and mobile POS platforms for Android OS, iOS and Windows Mobile. In theory, airlines will also be able to accept virtual currency payments via mobile applications, in-flight entertainment systems and at kiosks.

“As ancillary products and services continue to be a vital business component at every touch point where travel operators connect with their passengers, and with an ever growing population of travellers carrying smartphones and holding virtual currencies, there is a need to ensure those travellers can use Bitcoin currency consistency as a form of payment within each access point,” said Brett Proud, President & CEO of GuestLogix.

Considering Bitcoin had an estimated 1.3 million users in 2014, it seems GuestLogix is preparing for a potential jump in uptake among consumers, rather than responding to high demand for in-flight virtual currency acceptance. According to a report by Juniper Research, the number of Bitcoin users is expected to reach 4.7 million worldwide by 2019.

Last year, Latvian flag carrier airBaltic became the first airline to accept online payment by Bitcoin.

Estonian Air has installed an AirFi box on each of its CRJ900 NextGen and Embraer 170 aircraft, allowing passengers to access a variety of content. Estonian Air has installed the AirFi streaming solution onboard its CRJ900 NextGen and Embraer 170 aircraft, allowing passengers to access a variety of content via their personal electronic devices. Developed …

Estonian Air has installed an AirFi box on each of its CRJ900 NextGen and Embraer 170 aircraft, allowing passengers to access a variety of content.

The AirFi service is now available on all of Estonian Air’s aircraft and is available in two languages – English and Estonian.

Estonian Air has installed the AirFi streaming solution onboard its CRJ900 NextGen and Embraer 170 aircraft, allowing passengers to access a variety of content via their personal electronic devices.

Developed by MI Airline, AirFi enables passengers to read newspapers and magazines, view RSS feeds, play games, chat with other passengers and view bespoke destination guides.

Commenting on the installation of the system, Indrek Randveer, Estonian Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “In cooperation with the Dutch company MI Airline and with their ingenious AirFi system, the entire fleet of Estonian Air is now equipped with a fast and portable network, which provides for us a solution that does not require any modification to the aircraft.

“This enables us to offer passengers a connected experience using their own devices. Our system does not require passengers to install an app before the flight and the service is provided for free.”

Randveer also said Estonian Air is exploring further entertainment options, such as enabling duty free shopping via passengers’ devices and offering movies and television series. The carrier’s adoption of the AiFi service follows an announcement by Transavia earlier this month that it will install an AirFi box on all of its aircraft.

The rollout of Automated Passport Control, Mobile Passport Control, preclearance and digital departure cards is helping to expedite passenger processing. Reducing waiting times is a fundamental element of improving the airport experience and recent technological developments are enabling significant improvements to be made on this front, particularly at the customs and immigration checkpoint. This is …

The rollout of Automated Passport Control kiosks has helped to ease the burden on U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In 2014, the average wait time at the immigration checkpoint was down by 13% across the top 10 US airports, even though passenger traffic increased by 4.7%.

Reducing waiting times is a fundamental element of improving the airport experience and recent technological developments are enabling significant improvements to be made on this front, particularly at the customs and immigration checkpoint.

This is typified by the rollout of Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks, 845 of which can now be found at 32 airports, mostly in the United States and Canada, but also in a selection of preclearance locations, ranging from Dublin to Abu Dhabi. The merits of APC have been widely reported, with shorter queues the biggest and most obvious benefit. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, for example, which was the first airport in the US to install the kiosks, reported a 24.8% reduction in the average time during peak hours as a result of the investment, and at New York-JFK, the average wait time was down 28% in 2014 compared to the previous 12 months.

Mobile Passport Control coming to 20 US airports

Building on the benefits of the APC kiosks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is exploring how it can further improve the passenger experience and reduce waiting times now that APC is in place at the vast majority of North America’s major international airports. To this end, Mobile Passport Control (MPC) was launched as a trial in August last year, allowing travellers to submit their passport information and customs declaration form via smartphone or tablet prior to inspection by a CBP agent. The service can currently be used at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Miami International Airport, and U.S. CBP revealed to FTE this week that a much wider rollout is on the cards.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed to FTE that Mobile Passport Control will be rolled out at the 20 busiest US airports before the end of 2016.

“In the coming weeks, eligible travellers arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will be able to use the app to expedite their arrival into the United States,” a CBP spokesperson confirmed. “CBP has committed to expand the programme to the 20 airports with the highest volumes of international travellers by the end of 2016.”

The appetite for expedited processing among travellers is, unsurprisingly, evident. Just last week, U.S. CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske revealed that the Global Entry trusted traveller programme has just enrolled its two millionth member. Combined with the APC and MPC rollouts, the expansion of trusted traveller programmes helped wait times drop by 13% at the 10 busiest US airports in 2014; undeniably a step in the right direction.

Expanding the scope of preclearance

This year, a focus is also being placed on expanding the reach of preclearance to help further cut queues for arriving passengers. In addition to nine Canadian locations, preclearance is currently available to US-bound travellers departing from Shannon, Dublin, Abu Dhabi, Aruba, Grand Bahama (Freeport), Lynden Pindling (Nassau) and Bermuda airports.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport recently revealed its ambitions to become just the third airport in Europe to offer preclearance, although approval, if granted, is likely to be many months away. The UK government is also said to have responded positively to the idea of introducing preclearance at the country’s major airports. As with APC, it appears that there is significant desire for preclearance outside of North America, which is more good news, at least for US-bound travellers.

Brisbane Airport’s Digital Departure Card

Brisbane Airport Corporation is trialling a Digital Departure Card, which is designed to simplify the immigration process for departing passengers. Julieanne Alroe, BAC’s CEO and Managing Director, says the initiative has “huge potential”.

Further afield, expediting the immigration process is very much on the agenda in Australia. The SmartGate system, which automates the passport control process, has been gradually expanded in recent years to not only include Australian and New Zealand citizens, but also those from the UK, US and Singapore. Swiss, Canadian and Irish e-passport holders can also use the self-service e-gates as part of an ongoing trial.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Airport has this week become the first to trial a new app-based Digital Departure Card, which removes the need for passengers to hand-write an Outgoing Passenger Card ahead of leaving the country.

The Digital Departure Card is built into the Brisbane Airport app, and passengers can enter their personal information via their mobile device prior to their arrival at the airport, allowing them to save time in the terminal. The profile can be saved within the app, so the passenger doesn’t have to enter the information every time they travel.

This information is then used to automatically generate a QR code that can be scanned and printed at dedicated kiosks in the International Terminal. The passenger must then sign the printed card and present it to a Customs officer.

Julieanne Alroe, CEO and Managing Director of Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), said the Australian Customs Service and Department of Immigration and Border Protection have “recognised the huge potential of this initiative”, adding: “The result is an Australian, if not a world first digital solution that will save time, streamline processing and help reduce anxiety associated with departure formalities, especially for non-English speaking travellers.”

Global potential

While many of the benefits associated with these developments have been felt at North American airports – especially with regard to the APC rollout – there is now hope that the advantages can be successfully exported on a global basis. As explained by Paul Mewett, Director of Innovative Travel Solutions at Vancouver Airport Authority, which has so far supplied more than 530 APC kiosks to 19 airports across Canada, the US and the Caribbean, the BorderXpress APC solution can be tailored to regional needs. In fact, “fruitful” conversations have already taken place outside of North America and the Caribbean.

We will have to wait and see where the next APC-style solution appears, but one thing that seems certain is that even more passengers stand to benefit from increased investment in innovative solutions to improve efficiency at the customs and immigration checkpoint.

The SITA 2015 Baggage Report shows that 7.3 bags per 1,000 were mishandled in 2014, with almost half due to transfer mishandling. The annual SITA Baggage Report has just been released and it shows that 7.3 bags per 1,000 were mishandled in 2014; a slight increase on the 6.96 per 1,000 recorded in 2013, when …

The SITA 2015 Baggage Report shows that 7.3 bags per 1,000 were mishandled in 2014, with almost half due to transfer mishandling.

According to the SITA 2015 Baggage Report, 7.13 bags per 1,000 were mishandled in 2014, compared to 6.96 per 1,000 in 2013. (Source: SITA 2015 Baggage Report)

The annual SITA Baggage Report has just been released and it shows that 7.3 bags per 1,000 were mishandled in 2014; a slight increase on the 6.96 per 1,000 recorded in 2013, when annual passenger numbers were 5.5% lower.

The positive news, however, is that the rate of mishandled bags has been cut by 61.3% globally since 2007, when 18.8 bags per 1,000 were mishandled. These improvements over the past seven years have created cost savings of an estimated $18 billion for the industry.

In 2014, around four in five (80.2%) mishandled bags were delayed, 14.3% of the bags were damaged or pilfered, and 5.5% were lost or stolen. The report also offers insight into the reasons behind delayed baggage in 2014. Unsurprisingly, almost half – 49% – of cases were due to transfer mishandling. In real terms, 11.81 million transfer bags were delayed in 2014.

Another key point in the report is that airlines and airports are planning to invest in more self-service options in the coming years. Around a third of airlines and airports currently offer on-airport self-tagging options, but 82% of airlines and 69% of airports expect to offer self-tagging kiosks by 2017. During the same period, the number of airports offering assisted bag drop is expected to rise from 38% to 74%, with the number of airlines offering the service rising from 33% to 86%. By 2017, 66% of airlines also plan to offer bag location updates via passengers’ mobile devices. It’s no surprise that home printed and permanent bag tags are also expected to gain traction in the coming months and years.

Commenting on the report, Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA, said: “This improvement in baggage handling over the past seven years is largely a result of strong technology investment and innovation in baggage systems automation and processes. However, rising passenger numbers will continue to place pressure on baggage infrastructure and processes, so the industry cannot afford to become complacent. With IATA forecasting continued passenger growth of around 7% in 2015, all industry partners will need to continue to invest, collaborate and focus on baggage management.”

The industry is also hoping that the introduction of IATA Resolution 753 on baggage tracking will help to cut the mishandled bag rate, although we have to wait another three years for that to come into effect.

Brisbane Airport is trialling a Digital Departure Card, which removes the need for international passengers to hand write the traditional Outgoing Passenger Card. Brisbane Airport has started trialling a Digital Departure Card, which removes the need for international passengers to hand write the traditional Outgoing Passenger Card that is required for immigration purposes, and provides …

Brisbane Airport is trialling a Digital Departure Card, which removes the need for international passengers to hand write the traditional Outgoing Passenger Card.

The Digital Departure Card was inspired by a team of Queensland University of Technology students who came up with the idea of digitising the departure card as part of a practical assessment.

Brisbane Airport has started trialling a Digital Departure Card, which removes the need for international passengers to hand write the traditional Outgoing Passenger Card that is required for immigration purposes, and provides passenger identification and a record of a person’s departure from Australia.

The Digital Departure Card is built into the Brisbane Airport app, and passengers can enter their personal information via their mobile device prior to their arrival at the airport, allowing them to save time in the terminal. The profile can be saved within the app, so the passenger doesn’t have to enter the information every time they travel.

This information is then used to automatically generate a QR code that can be scanned and printed at dedicated kiosks in the International Terminal. The passenger must then sign the printed card and present it to a Customs officer during the departure process.

Julieanne Alroe, CEO and Managing Director of Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), commented: “We are fortunate to have a long association with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and it was a team of QUT Interactive and Visual Design students who came up with the initial idea of digitalising the Departure Card process as part of a practical assessment.

“We are also very grateful of the enthusiastic support given by the Australian Customs Service and Department of Immigration and Border Protection, which both recognised the huge potential of this initiative. We saw great potential in the idea and with approval from the Department to proceed, BAC provided the capital and resources to develop the programme and necessary infrastructure, as well as ensuring all boxes were ticked from a practical, logistical and legislative perspective.”

Emirates’ premium passengers flying from Los Angeles can make use of the new Emirates Lounge, which is the result of a $6.2 million investment by the carrier. Emirates’ premium passengers flying from Los Angeles International Airport can now make use of a new luxury lounge, which is the result of a $6.2 million investment by …

Emirates’ premium passengers flying from Los Angeles can make use of the new Emirates Lounge, which is the result of a $6.2 million investment by the carrier.

Mohammed Mattar, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Airport Services, and Barry Rondinella, Director of Operations at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), were among the guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Emirates Lounge.

Emirates’ premium passengers flying from Los Angeles International Airport can now make use of a new luxury lounge, which is the result of a $6.2 million investment by the Dubai-based carrier.

Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the Emirates Lounge is open to First and Business Class customers, as well as Platinum and Gold members of the Emirates Skywards frequent flyer programme. Guests can enjoy a terrace view, LED televisions, leather armchairs, a dining area with a variety of global cuisines, shower facilities, a prayer room and a business centre. Italian marble floors and Rolex clocks add to the luxurious environment.

Mohammed H. Mattar, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President – Airport Services, said: “Our third dedicated airport lounge in the US underpins our commitment to providing our premium customers with a great travel experience, and delivering on the high standards they have come to expect from Emirates.

“A nod to the Golden Age of air travel, the new lounge design is inspired by the understated luxury of our lounges in Dubai’s Concourse A, and is reflective of the discerning tastes of our premium customers.”

In addition to having access to the new Emirates Lounge, First and Business Class passengers can also take advantage of a private chauffeur service to Los Angeles International Airport from anywhere within a 60-mile radius of the airport.